
QassX-LM. 



Mk.^MlSL 



CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 



1492. - - 1892. 



B^>r 



CLARENCE WINTHROP BOWEN. 



NEW VORK. 

i88(i. 



CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 



1492. - - 1892. 



BY 



CLARENCE WINTHROP BOWEN. 



XEW^ YORK. 

1SS9. 



£ iZi 



'0 116 



The following letter, regarding the celebration of the 
four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America 
by Christopher Columbus, was written from Madrid, 
Spain, and published in The Independent of May 31, 1888. 



Johni HopkinV, Ftiiv. lil^- 
Giit^ 



CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 



1492-1892. 



The four liuiulredtli iiiiiiiversary of tlie discovery of 
America by Christopher Columbus is uot far off. It is not 
to be believed that the fourth centennial of an event that 
has been of such vast importance to human affairs will be 
passed by without some public ceremouie'^. What they 
should be, it is, perhaps, too early to suggest ; but what 
the country to which belong the honor and glory of the 
discovery of the New World thinks of such a celebration 
may not be without interest. The object of this article is, 
therefore, to show the opinions in Spain regarding this 
subject. 

JUAN FACUNDO RIANO. 

One of the most widely known and highly esteemed 
gentlemen in Spain is the Director-General of Public In- 
struction and the Arts, His Excellency, Don Juan F. Ria- 
no. Both as a scholar and as a member of the Cortes, 
whatever Sehor Riano says always attracts attention. The 
following is his reply to s6iA% qi^^^'tious put to him : 

*' I respond with th^^ greatest pleasure to the invita- 
tion which you have had the liindness to extend to me to 
express my opinions regarding the place where the anni- 
versary of the discovery of America ought to be celebrated 
in 1892, as well as the manner in which that important 
and international celebration should be held. 

" I believe that two localities have indisputable and 
prior claims — viz., the birthplace of Columbus, or the spot 
Avliere he first disembarked on the shores of the New 
World. But is the town in which Columbus was born 
known to-day beyond a doubt ? Or is the precise place 
of his disembarkation known? Neither of these two ques- 
tions has yet met with a iBolution which can fully satisfy 
the demands of modern investigation. From the time that 
Don Fernando Columbus, son of the illustrious mariner. 



wrote the biography of his father until the present clay, 
various towns in the vicinity of Genoa have disputed 
among themselves for the honor of being the birthplace of 
Columbus, and other cities of Italy have also made the 
same claim. Nor have historians even yet fixed with pos- 
itive certainty the exact point of his disembarkation. 
From the time that Fray Bartolome de las Casas, almost 
a contemporary of Columbus, wrote an account of the 
course pursued during the first voyage, up to the publica- 
tion in Washington last year of ' An Attempt to Solve the 
Problem,' by the scholarly Anglo-American, C. P. Patter- 
son, no one, not even this same Mr. Patterson, has yet de- 
signated, with the conclusive proofs Avhich the undertak- 
ing requires, the exact situation of San Salvador, where so 
glorious an event occurred. Genoa, San Domingo, Ha- 
vana, etc., etc., could consequently, make respectable 
claims to be chosen as the place for celebrating the grand 
jubilee ; but it is impossible to determine the exact locali- 
ty either of his birth or of his landing on the 12th of 
October, 1492. 

" Perhaps, in the nine years which shall intervene be- 
fore the great festival, there -w^ill be published new studies 
which will establish the certainty of these two questions 
so much discussed ; but, meanwhile, I have to propose to 
the consideration of those who are directly interested in 
the anniversary, another locality, which also has special 
and superior claims. 

" Lost in the hope of carrying out his undertaking in 
other countries, Columbus came to Spain and sought the 
favor of Ferdinand and Isabella in support of his project. 
Yet these Catholic sovereigns, having experienced the suf- 
ferings of a war which they were bringing to a decisive 
close, could not give help to projects of new and foreign 
conquests until the Moors of Granada were finally sub- 
dued. Their capitulation in 1491 and occupation of the 
city of Granada by thair Catholic majesties on the 2d of 
January, 1492, constituted, in my opinion, the exclusive 
occasions which decided the voyage of Columbus to 



America. Without these previous successes on the part of 
the sovereigns, the most glorious and important event 
which history discloses, the discovery of the New World, 
would have been iiidotinitely postponed. 

"In Santa Fe de laJVega^in Granada, on the 17th of 
April, 14D27'aud in Granada on the oOth of the same mouth, 
the Catholic sovereigns conferred upon Chiristopher 
Columbus the title of admiral, viceroy, and governor of 
the seas and lands which he might discover ; and the same 
Columbus, after receiving these honors and the means for 
undertaking the voyage, left the city of Granada, Saturday, 
the 12tli of May, 1492. I know of no other city which has 
greater claims to be chosen as the place where the world 
shall gather to express its honors for the memory of 
Columbus. In Granada the project which resulted in the 
discovery of America was resolved upon. In Granada rest 
the ashes of the noble monarchs to whom the world is un- 
der obligations for such extraordinary achievements. In 
Granada stands the palace of the Moorish kings, where 
the mariner took leave of his protectors in order to cross 
the ocean ; and upon the walls of this wonder of art might 
be inscribed, with greater significance than anywhere else, 
the words Fauto Monta, the emblem of the Old World, and 
Plus Ultra, the promise of the new, which the glorious en- 
thusiasm and intrepidity of Columbus presented as a royal 
gift to the sovereigns of Sj)ain. Were it necessary to 
develop more fully the fact that Granada offers a situation 
without equal in Europe, and were it needful to recall to 
mind its monuments, its history, its traditions, and av hat- 
ever it contains of beauty and grandeur, I should only refer 
to those distinguished historians, William H. Prescott and 
Washington Irving, whose names are forever linked with 
the memory of Columbus and of the City of the Moors. 

" In what way the anniversary should be celebrated is 
a problem, in my opinion more difficult than that of de- 
tarmining the locality. In it are included the different 
exercises which are observed in such festivals ; and, be- 
sides, it is necessary to have an idea of all the attending 



6 

circumstances ; of the time and day of the year which 
should be preferred ; of the nations which should be in- 
vited, and of all the other details which must be included 
in such a project. 

" As a part of the programme, I am at present inclined 
to think that a number of handsome awards should be 
given for special services ; for example, pensions for 
life should be bestowed, without reference to nationality, 
upon those who have distingaishe 1 themselves in labori- 
ous and difficult voyages and discoveries on land or sea, 
and other prizes or medals should be given for scientific 
and industrial labors connected with the progress made 
in geography. These and kindred subjects should be com- 
bined with the celebration of the anniversary ; and if the 
idea of choosing Granada should be acceptsd, excursions 
should be made to Santa Fe, Cordova, Rabida, Palos, and 
other points of Andalusia and the rest of Spain, with 
which the life of Columbus is connected ; aadlparticularly 
to Seville, Avhere you Avill see in a special library the books 
pertaining to the history and work of Columbus, and where 
exist autographs and other important documents upon 
America in the archives of the Indies." 

THE DUKE OF VERAGUA. 

At Seiior Riaiio's request, and with a letter of intro- 
duction from him, I next called upon the representative of 
the family of_CoIumbus, His Excellency, the Duke of Ver- 
agua. I was ushered by servants into one apartment after 
another, and had time enough to observe something of the 
style in which the Duke lives. On his immense ancestral 
estates the Duke raises hundreds of the finest bulls in 
Spain, many of which are slaughtered each year in the 
famous Bull Rings at Madrid and Seville. His bulls are 
fiefceT and cost more than the ordinary bulls one sees in 
the Ring ; and when it is announced that the Duke of 
Veragua's bulls are to fight, even larger crowds than usual 
throng the amjjhitheatres. In one of the rooms was a 
larg3 painting, representing some bulls in the field, with 
the Duke, on horseback, chasing one of them. In other 



parts of the room were portr.iits of famous matadors wlio 
lived years ago. In the reception room, near portraits of 
the Duke's beautiful wife and mother, was the picture of 
a famous matador who lived iu the time of Charles IV. 
The Duke is a line looking gentleman, of medium height, 
and about forty years old. The expression of his face, and 
particularly of the mouth, is said very much to resemble 
the features of his renowned ancestor, and the resemblance 
to the original portrait of Columbus at the National Li- 
brary is striking. Being a Grandee, with a dozen or more 
Spanish titles, the Duke belongs to the hereditary portion 
of the Senate, where he is a constant attendant. As he 
also attends personally to the management of his several 
estates, he may be called a hard-working man. When I 
suggested how much he would see of interest to him in 
America, and Iioav much the people would enjoy a visit 
from the only living descendent of Christopher Columbus, 
' he replied that he had too much work to do at home, and 
the Spaniards were poor travelers ; they left sight- seeing 
to the Anglo-Saxon race. 

Iu reply to several questions, the Duke said he would 
be very much interested in any celebration that would take 
place in 1892. He thought that not only Spain and the 
nations of America should participate, but also Italy — 
the country which had given birth to Columbus; and that 
England, France, and the other nations of Europe, which 
contributed so largely toward populating the New "World, 
should likewise be included. Instead of having the cele- 
bration at San Salvador, where Columbus lirst saw land at 
10 o'clock at night on that famous eleventh of October, or 
even in New York, he thought Spain was the most appro- 
priate place ; and he favored ]V ladrid ^ as the centre of Si>aiu. 
His idea would be to have' one celebration, to which ;ill 
the nations interested might contribute, thus making it 
one of the grandest and largest/t^^es ever held in the world; 
but he did not favor several celebrations, which might be 
held in different countries at tlie same time. Tln^ Duke ex- 
plained how, in the festivities to be held at Madrid, could 



be represented in procession the historical scenes in the 
life of the Discoverer ; but instead of going into further 
details, he suggested that an audience with the King 
should be obtained. 

EMILIO CASTELAR. 

Meanwhile I could not fail to call upon a gentleman 
who is better known to Americans than any other man in 
Spain, Seiior Don Emilio Castelar. The name of the phil- 
osopher, scholar, orator, and statesman is a household word 
throughout Spain. When reproached, a few years since, 
for the failure of the grand idea of his life, a republic 
in Spain, his reply was : " I am a Spaniard first ; a repub- 
lican afterward." Patriotism, then, is a passion with Cas- 
telar, and whatever affects the welfare and glory of the 
Peninsula is of absorbing interest to him. When the sub- 
ject of the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of 
America was introduced, he said that was an idea in which 
Spaniards were particularly interested, and he likewise 
felt that Portugal, Italy, England, France, and the coun- 
tries of America would wish to contribute to a celebration 
in 1892. As the United States holds friendly relations 
with all these nations, and as whatever steps she might 
take in this or any other matter would have a great weight, 
he would be glad to see our own country take a leading 
part in an event of such vast magnitude as the anniversary 
of the discovery of the New World would be. As he was 
to address the Athenaeum, a leading literary society of 
Spain, the coming year, and had chosen " Columbus " as 
his subject, he would avail himself of that occasion to im- 
press upon the kiuglom the imj)orfcaac3 of the anniver- 
sary and the necessity of celebrating it in as grand and 
becoming a manner as possible. 

When asked what would be his ideas regarding the 
program for the celebration, Castelar without hesitation 
spoke with a rapidity, beauty, and eloquence of language 
such as one seldom hears. An outline of the vivid picture 
he drew may be given as follows : 

" Instead of celebrating in any one place, which would 



9 

necessarily be local in character, I woiilil liavo all the 
nations interested so combine as to make this anniversary 
the most memorable and the grandest ever held in the his- 
tory of the world. In Genoa, as the city of Columbus's 
birth, the initiative should be taken. Spain, Portugal, 
Italy, France, England and the United States should be 
properly represented. Then let each of these nations send 
a vessel or several vessls of their own, beautifully equip- 
ped and with representatives oHicially accredited to the 
seaport of Palos, in Granada, where upon the 3d of August 
should occur, after suitable ceremonies, the departure of 
this international fleet for the island of San Salvador. As 
all the nations mentioned have contributed so much to 
America in years and centuries gone by, and are now so 
vitally interested in her present welfare, there would be a 
unity of interest in the voyage that would be really re- 
markable. The fleet should stop^at the Canary Islands, 
and in further imitation of the course pursued by Chris- 
topher Columbus, should proceed on its way to San Sal- 
vador. How memorable the anniversary of the discovery 
of land would be and how many ways to commemorate it 
at once occur to mind ! I should be glad to see the fleet 
visit some of the points of historical and commercial inter- 
est in the AYestern Hemisphere. At New York the cere- 
monies, I am sure, Avould be imposing. The concluding 
ceremonies should be, I think, at Barcelona in our own 
countiy, and something like the magnificent festivities of 
the Court of Ferdinand and Isabella should be rejjeated in 
memory of the great discoverer ; for 

" ' A CastiUa y a Leon 

Nuevo muTulo dio Colon.' " 

" The government of Spain, I am sure," continued 
Seiior Castelar, " would contribute its share of the ex- 
pense ; and, to add to the popularity of the festival, I 
would favor public subscrij^tions, to which all might con- 
tribute. We would thus be enabled to provide for the 
suitable entertainment of foreign vessels with the repre- 
sentatives of the difl'erent nations while visiting our own 



10 

shores, aud I believe the other nations would each sub- 
scribe its share of the expense. As a member of the 
Cortes, I will do all I can in this direction. But public 
sentiment should first be aroused bj means of the press. 
When the people throughout the different nations are 
thoroughly awakened to the magnitude of the anniversary, 
they will seek in some way to carry into effect their ideas 
regarding the celebration. Societies could be formed 
which might exert an important influence. Finally, the 
governments themselves would wish to be officially repre- 
sented, and the great event of 1892 would be celebrated 
with enthusiasm." 

THE KING OF SPAIN. 

Through the courtesy of the Hon. Dwiglit T. Reed, 
the Charge cV Affaires of the United States in Spain, who 
applied through the Secretary of State, the Marquis de la 
Yega de Amijo, for a private audience, I, to-day, had a 
most interesting interview with His Majesty, Alphonso 
XII. But there is so much red tape required to secure an 
interview with the King that one is convinced of the truth 
of the Spanish proverb : " Las cosas de Palacio van despacio." 
In one of the magnificent reception rooms of the most 
beautiful palace in all Europe, the King and Queen re- 
ceived Mr. Reed and myself, and, after the usual introduc- 
tion, the King shook hands, bade us be seated, and at once 
began to ask a score or more of questions. He wished to 
know the views of the Duke of Veragua, of Castelar, and 
Riaho regarding the anniversary in 1892. At first he 
thought that nine years was a long time to spend in ar- 
ranging for the celebration, but perhaps not too long con- 
sidering the importance of the anniversary. 

" It is an event," continued His Majesty, " in which 
all the world would be intarested, and in which the leading 
nations might unite. I would do all in my power to make 
it a brilliant festival ; but, considering the pre-eminent 
part that Spain took in the discovery of America, I claim 
that she should certainly be allowed to have the celebra- 
tion within her own borders. Italy gave birtli to Colum- 



11 

bus, it is true. Other countries considered his ideas oulj 
visionary schemes. But it was Spain ak^ne that furnished 
the means for carrying into practical effect v/hat wouhl 
otherwise have b^en only a dream. To Spain alone, there- 
fore, belongs the credit of the discovery. Instead of several 
celebrations, in different countries, I should favor, for the 
reasons given, one grand anniversary in Spain. Either 
Madrid, Granada, Huelva, or Barcelona would be a suita- 
ble place. Barcelona, because it is an important com- 
mercial town, easy of access by sea from Italy, and con- 
nected so closely with an important event in the life of 
Columbus ; Granada, because its historical associations are 
so many ; but, above all, I would prefer Huelva, a growing 
and important city of which Palos is the harbor. It was 
Huelva that furnished the mast for the vessel in which 
Columbus first sailed. With rich mines on one side of the 
town and a good harbor on the other, Huelva is so situ- 
ated that all the foreign vessels could be accommodated 
that came to participate in the celebration. A very large 
and handsome hotel, which is to-day opened for the first 
time to the public, is perhaps an indication of what the 
enterprise of citizens of Huelva might do." 

" Should the vessels," it was asked, " proceed from 
Huelva to San Salvador, in imitation of the course pur- 
sued by Columbus, and as suggested by Sehor Castelar?" 

" That would be making a parody of the celebration," 
answered the Queen, whc^app&nrgTrto take a deep interest 
in the conversation and asked many questions regarding 
what she thought would be a most interesting anniversary. 

" No, it would not be a parody," continued the King, 
" except in the sense that all celebrations are parodies. 
The festivity of an anniversary, contrasted with the 
solemnity of the event itself, often looks like a parody. 
But the idea of Senor Castelar is an excellent one. In fact, 
the more I think of the proposed celebration, the more in- 
terested in it I am, and I will certainly do M'hat is possible 
to make it a decided success." 

The King talked for half an hour, and showed beyond 



12 

question tliat he took a genuine interest in the subject. 
He realized that Spain should take the initiative. At the 
proper time the question would be brought up, and he 
hoped the celebration might be be as signilicant as is war- 
ranted by the grand achievement of Christopher Colum- 
bus. 

Madrid, Thursday, 3Iay 3d, 1883. 



THE FOURTH CENTENARY OF AMERICA. 



From The Independent, May 31, 1883. 



Our readers will find on the first and second pages a 
communication, by Mr. Clarence Winthrop Bowen, on 
Columbus, and what leading men in Spain think as to the 
celebration of the four hundredth anniversary of the dis- 
covery of America. 

These reports give formal conversations on the sub- 
ject with the Director-General of Public Instruction and 
the Arts, with the present representative of the family of 
Columbus, the Duke of Yeragua, with the parliamentary 
leader, Emilio Castelar, and with the King and Queen, 
procured, with this special end in view, by Mr. Keedj our 
Charge d' Affairs at Madrid. 

Mr. Bowen's report, so far as we know, is the first 
public suggestion of a matter which, nine years hence, is 
likely to be attracting a good deal more notice in the 
world than now. This publication of the opinions of the 
most august and responsible personages in Spain brings 
the matter up in the best possible way. Nor is it prema- 
ture. Many things would have to be considered, as one 
can at once see by looking over these reports in our 
columns. Nobody expects Spanish opinion nowadays to 



13 

be unanimous, biit there is, rather more tlian tlio usual 
amount of characteristic JifiVn-enca in the highlj'-iuterest- 
ing opinions collected by our correspondent. 

They all agree in this, that the comnioinoration should 
take place and that Spain should take the initiative in it. 

This is not likely to be disputed ; not, at least, as far 
as Europe is concerned. Italy has a personal interest in 
Columbus as his birth-place ; but it is noi^Columbus who 
is to be commemorated, but a certain achievement of his. V 
The personal facts of his history do not come into prom- 
inence in such a commemoration, and, therefore, Italy 
falls out of the question. Portugal has little to claim 
except that Columbus cast anchor in her waters on his 
first return. The fact and event of the discovery can be 
commemorated in one demonstration nowhere so well as 
in Spain herself ; in Madrid, the head and representative 
of the monarchy; in Granada where the project which 
resulted in the discovery was resolved on ; or in Barcelona, 
where the full-blown announcement of the achievement 
was made. 

But such a commemoration has a history as well as 
an event to dwell on, and it is the history whose reflex 
light throws all the luster it possesses into the event. 
The discovery of America would not be the epoch it is in 
the world's history had it not turned out, in the four 
hundred years tliat followed, that America was a thing 
worth discovering. 

The gold that Spain got out of it is not a thing that 
the world cares to remember, nor one that Spain herself 
w^ould have any special pride in. So that, while to Spain 
belongs the honor of the discovery, it is America herself 
that has made that discovery to shine with luster in the 
Spanish 'crown. And America has for the most part 
wrought out her own history on her own soil with her 
own hands, and the better part of it by following her own 
counsels. 

All of this gives her rights in this mattr'r which can- 
not be set aside, though it is remarkable that only Senor 



14 

Castelar seems, in these reports, to recognize tliem. He 
apparently has the better view of what is due to the makers 
of America and of her history. Our readers will agree 
with the King of Spain that his suggestions are excellent. 

The living interest of such a commemoration must be 
American. But the whole world meet in such celebrations, 
Italy, Portugal, France ; and even Iceland can remember 
that the great Admiral was once in her ports, and may 
have heard there, to fire and guide his speculations, some 
vague traditions of the voyages of Biorn and Lief, and of 
the pleasant coasts of Yineland and Halleland. There is 
nothing nobler in the life of man than these commemora- 
tions. They redeem us from the poor doubt that the 
world's life is not worth living. They make us feel its sub- 
stantial gains and the grand movement of history in obe- 
dience to the " heart of good " that lies at its center. 

At all events the commemoration must be had, and, 
without doubt, will be. To make it worthy of the event, 
and a solid step forward in the interest of the world's peace 
and prosperity, these suggestions from S23ain come none 
too soon. 



